Method of making metal cans



Patented F eb. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES- RALPH.' E. BLACKFORD AND CHARLES BUTTBFIELD, OF LIDDLETOWN, l(,EIIU.

MEvTHon or MAKING METAL CANS.

Application led December 22, 1924. Serial No. 757,345.

to provide an efficient metal can which may,

be economically manufactured under our improved method. While this method 'may be employed in the production of any type of can,` it is the object of our invention to adapt it particularly to the formation of a substantially rectangular icelcan in order that the latter may be made cheaply, strong and without any kinks or warps appearing in it.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the welded cylinder.

Figure 2 is a side view thereof. Figure 3 is a top plan view of the substantially rectangular, finished ice-can. Figure 4 is a side view of the latter, partly in section'. And Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the can bottom, the dash lines indicating the shape of the blank before it is bentto inal form and the dot and dash lines indicating the bending lines.

Our improved method ofproducing cans,

particularly ice-cans, consists-first in rolling a strip 1 of lsuitable metal such as steel, to substantially cylindrical form as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and then welding its free longitudinal edges together as at 2. The cylinder is then brought into the substantial shape and size desired, in this' instancea rectangular one, by suitable dies, preferably internally-expanding ones, after which it is coated against theaction ofar, `moisture and chemicals.` vlll/'e 4prefer to galvanize it for this purpose.'

After the metal sheet thus formed is galvanized, the tdies are reinserted and operated to take-out any kinks or warps that may have developed in itduring the galvanizing process. The second operation' of the dies also gives thecan the final set shown in Figures 3 and Lt.v An annular series of holes 3 are then preferably punched in its lower to the lower end for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The bottom for the can is first formed from a blank 4 of suitable metal, preferably steel, in the shape shown in Figure 5. The middle part of this bottom conforms in shape to that of the bottom o f t'he can 1, but of slightly less size so that it may be firmly fitted within it. Formed on thc sides and ends -of this bottom part are rectangular flap sections 5 which are adapted to be bent up 90- to form together the side walls of the bottom. Before they are bent up, how-v ever, Iholes 6 are preferably punched in them for registry with the holes 3 in the lower end of the can. Through these registering holes 3 and 6, rivets 7 are adapted to be passed to tirmly secure the can bottom 4: wlthin the lower end of the can l. (See Figure 4.)

Preferably formed on'. eachlflap 5 of the bottom 4, and divided therefrom in Figure 5 by a dot and dash line 8, is aflap portion 9 whose ends are inwardly cut at an angle of so that when the flaps 5 are bent up to form the side walls of the bottom, these flaps 9 may befolded over an additional 90o to form together the attachingframe unit shown in full lines in said figure. Beforev the flaps 9 are turned over, however, holes 10, which receive -suitable attaching elements, are preferably formed in them at a greater distance apart' than the holes 6 in the Haps 5.

After the bottom just described is -riveted part of the can v1, solder is poured in the l)oints between the walls 5 of the lbottom andthe inner surface of the wall of the can to make them liquid tight.

It is thus seen that under our improved4 method an .efiicient metal can may be economically manufactured for ice-can and like purposes. v

We do not wish to be limited to the details of construction and arrangement herein shown. and described, and any changes or moditicationsmay be made therein within the scope of the subjoined claims. l Having r described our invention, 'we claim:l

lars

1. The herein described method of making metal cans, which consists, first, in rolling a strip of metal into substantially cylindrical chemicals, and then expanding it to a final set.

2. The herein described method of making metal cans, which consists, first, in rolling a strip of metal into-substantially cylindrical form, t-'hen Welding it along its free longitudinal edges, then expanding it from the inside into substantially the desired form,'thenl coating it against the action of air, moisture and chemicals, and. then internally expand- 10 ing it to a final set.

-In witness whereof We have hereunto setour hands this 18 day of December, 1924.

RALPH E. BLACKFORD. CHARLES BUTTERFIELD. 

